Salesforce · Trailhead Certification

Salesforce Platform Developer II

PDII

The Salesforce Certified Platform Developer II (PDII) is the advanced developer credential for engineers who build complex Apex logic, integrations, and Lightning solutions on the platform. It is uniquely two-part: you must pass a 60-question proctored exam and complete the Advanced Apex Specialist superbadge — so a single weak area can stall the whole credential. For senior Salesforce developers, PDII is often the line between a mid-level role and an architect track. This page breaks down exactly what's tested, how it's delivered, and how to get it done the first time.

120 min
60 Questions
70% to Pass
Online or Center

Pay Only After You Pass

No upfront fee — you settle only after your verified passing result. We advertise guaranteed results — 100% pass guaranteed or money back.

Exam Spec Sheet

Provider Salesforce
Format 60 MCQ + Advanced Apex superbadge
Duration 120 minutes (exam)
Questions 60 scored + up to 5 unscored
Passing Score 70%
Fee $200 + tax · $100 retake
Prerequisite Platform Developer I
Delivery Pearson VUE (OnVUE / center)
Languages English, Japanese
See PDII Help Options

EXAM FORMAT

How the Platform Developer II credential is built — at a glance

60

Multiple-Choice Exam

60 scored multiple-choice and multiple-select questions, plus up to 5 unscored items, in 120 minutes. You need 70% to pass. Delivered through Pearson VUE.

1

Advanced Apex Superbadge

A hands-on Trailhead superbadge where you build and test real Apex in a developer org. Requires the Apex Specialist and Data Integration Specialist superbadges first.

PDI

Prerequisite Credential

You must already hold Salesforce Certified Platform Developer I before the PDII credential can be awarded. Both parts of PDII can be completed in any order.

Two parts, one credential

PDII is awarded automatically once you have passed the multiple-choice exam and completed the Advanced Apex Specialist superbadge. You can finish them in either order. Many candidates clear the superbadge first to sharpen the exact Apex skills the written exam then tests under time pressure.

How scoring works

The written exam is graded pass/fail against a 70% threshold rather than a published numeric score. Salesforce gives section-level feedback so a failed attempt tells you which domains to shore up. The superbadge is graded by automated challenge checks — every requirement must pass, with no partial credit.

WHAT'S TESTED

Five weighted domains on the multiple-choice exam — bars show each domain's share

1

Process Automation, Logic & Integration

27%

Advanced Apex triggers, asynchronous processing (Future, Queueable, Batchable, Schedulable), declarative automation, and inbound/outbound integration with REST, SOAP, and platform events.

2

User Interface

20%

Lightning Web Components and Aura, Visualforce, the Lightning Component framework, and choosing the right declarative or programmatic UI for a given requirement.

3

Testing, Debugging & Deployment

20%

Apex unit testing and coverage, test data and mocking, debug logs and developer tools, plus packaging, change sets, and metadata deployment strategy.

4

Advanced Developer Fundamentals

15%

Core platform fundamentals, data modeling and management, large data volumes, sharing and security in Apex, and tool-choice decisions on complex declarative-versus-code requirements.

5

Performance

18%

Governor limits, bulkification, efficient SOQL and SOSL, query selectivity and indexing, caching, and writing Apex that scales against large data volumes without hitting platform ceilings.

PDII rewards real engineering judgment, not memorization: most questions are scenario-based and ask you to pick the most performant, governor-safe, and maintainable approach. A single careless answer on bulkification or async patterns can swing a borderline result, which is why governor limits and asynchronous Apex are worth disproportionate prep time.

DELIVERY & PROCTORING

Two ways to sit the written exam — and what to expect on test day

Online, proctored via OnVUE

You register through Trailhead Academy and take the exam from a private room at home, monitored live by a Pearson VUE OnVUE proctor. You run the OnVUE system check, launch the secure OnVUE app, complete a webcam room scan and ID check, and the proctor watches the full session. A stable connection and a quiet, clear workspace are required.

At a Pearson VUE test center

You can also book an onsite seat at a Pearson VUE test center. Staff verify your government-issued ID, store your belongings, and monitor the room while you sit the same 120-minute exam on a provided workstation. The superbadge portion is always completed separately on Trailhead.

ID & identity check

A valid, unexpired government photo ID with a name matching your Trailhead Academy registration exactly. The proctor captures a photo before the exam unlocks.

Environment scan

A clear desk, no second monitor, no phone or notes within reach, and a 360° webcam scan of the room. No one else may enter during the session.

During the exam

Stay in frame and on-camera for the full 120 minutes. The OnVUE app locks down other software. Talking aloud, leaving the seat, or losing connection can flag the session.

WHO SHOULD TAKE THIS

PDII is built for experienced Salesforce developers

  • Salesforce developers who already hold Platform Developer I
  • Engineers writing complex Apex, triggers, and async logic
  • Developers building LWC, Visualforce, and integrations
  • Professionals moving toward a Salesforce architect track
  • Consultants and ISV partners proving advanced dev skill

PREREQUISITES & DIFFICULTY

A real prerequisite — and a genuinely advanced bar

  • Platform Developer I credential is mandatory
  • Apex Specialist + Data Integration Specialist superbadges first
  • Hands-on Apex, SOQL, and async development experience
  • Comfort with governor limits and bulk-safe patterns

Difficulty: PDII is widely considered one of Salesforce's harder developer exams. The scenario questions punish surface-level knowledge, and the Advanced Apex Specialist superbadge demands working, fully-tested code in a live org. Most candidates invest months of real project work plus dedicated study — exactly the kind of pressure point our help is designed to remove.

HOW EXAM ASSIST HELPS YOU PASS PDII

Platform Developer II is a high-stakes, two-part credential standing between you and a senior or architect role. Exam Assist pairs you with a vetted Salesforce developer and works on a pay-after-you-pass model — so the risk sits with us, not you. No upfront fee, guaranteed results: Exam Assist handles the sitting end to end, and you settle only after the verified result.

1

Share your exam details

Tell us whether you need the multiple-choice exam, the superbadge, or both, your delivery method (online or center), and your target date. Takes a couple of minutes over WhatsApp, Telegram, or Discord.

2

Get an honest feasibility answer

We review your timeline and target and tell you plainly whether it's realistic — before any money is discussed. If it isn't a fit, we say so.

3

The sitting is handled

Exam Assist handles the sitting end to end. You're matched with a Salesforce specialist who maps the work around the five exam domains, the Advanced Apex superbadge, and the Pearson VUE environment — discreetly and confidentially.

4

Settle after the verified result

You only pay once your passing result is confirmed. No verified result, nothing owed.

Ready to lock in your PDII credential?

Start with a free, no-obligation feasibility check — pay only after a verified passing result.

Get PDII Help

FREQUENTLY ASKED

Straight answers about the Platform Developer II credential

What score do you need to pass the Platform Developer II exam? +
You need 70% to pass the PDII multiple-choice exam. There are 60 scored multiple-choice and multiple-select questions plus up to 5 unscored items, and you have 120 minutes. Salesforce gives you a pass or fail result with section-level feedback rather than a numeric percentile, so you can see which domains were weakest if you need to retake.
Do I need the Advanced Apex Specialist superbadge to earn PDII? +
Yes. The Platform Developer II credential has two parts: passing the PDII multiple-choice exam through Pearson VUE and completing the Advanced Apex Specialist superbadge on Trailhead. You can finish them in either order, and the credential is awarded automatically once both are done. The superbadge requires the Apex Specialist and Data Integration Specialist superbadges first.
Is Platform Developer I required before taking PDII? +
Yes. The Salesforce Certified Platform Developer I credential is a prerequisite for Platform Developer II. Salesforce expects PDII candidates to already have a strong foundation in Apex, Visualforce, Lightning Web Components, and the platform data model before tackling the advanced exam.
How much does the Platform Developer II exam cost? +
Registration for the PDII multiple-choice exam is USD $200 plus any applicable local taxes, and a retake is USD $100. The Advanced Apex Specialist superbadge on Trailhead is free. You register through Trailhead Academy and pick either OnVUE online proctoring or an in-person Pearson VUE test center.
Can I take the Platform Developer II exam online from home? +
Yes. Salesforce delivers the PDII exam through Pearson VUE, either online with OnVUE remote proctoring or in person at a Pearson VUE test center. The online option requires a webcam, a quiet private room, a clear desk, a stable connection, and a government ID check before the exam unlocks.
Do I pay Exam Assist before or after I see my PDII result? +
You settle only after your verified passing result is confirmed. There is no upfront fee — you share your exam details, receive an honest feasibility answer, and decide before any money changes hands. We advertise a guaranteed pass with money back if you do not pass; we offer a transparent, results-first arrangement.

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